Chapter 3 Chapter 3
Reyna
“Thank you for the warm welcome, Alessandro. Please, call me Killian.” Killian Kozlov extends his right hand, which my father graciously accepts in a handshake. “Please, let’s have a seat.”
We all take our seats like puppets. I try to shift my chair farther from the table, even though he is on the other side. His presence feels suffocating. Now that I can see him clearly, he is without a doubt extremely handsome. High cheekbones, a sharp jawline, and lashes that frame his dark, bottomless eyes. The aura this man exudes is undeniable. It’s like he controls the whole room just by breathing. Everyone is looking at him like he’s a god or something.
I try to draw a deep breath before looking at him, but a huge lump is stuck in my throat, making it difficult. I really, really wish Father hadn’t made me attend this meeting. How is it that I end up being unlucky in every situation I find myself in? Why does he have to be the same man who caught me in the hot-tub suite less than an hour ago? No wonder he thought I was a whore sneaking in to get his attention! Father must have prepared the suite for him and I stupidly trespassed without confirming if there was a guest there. God!
Calm down, Reyna… If he knows you’re scared, he might make things worse for you. You did nothing wrong but defend yourself. I try to comfort myself.
Maybe if I pretend he isn’t here, everything will go smoothly. But who am I kidding? It feels like this man could suck every speck of air out of the room. I spare a glance from beneath my lashes and find him still watching me with a look of curiosity in his sharp, intense eyes.
My throat feels parched, as though I haven’t swallowed saliva in days. He regards me with an unashamed gaze, his eyes roaming over me. This man is not ordinary. You can feel the energy coming off him. His olive skin glints in the dim light like gold. Killian Kozlov isn’t just devilishly handsome, he’s almost ethereal, like a fallen angel. And from the stories I’ve heard, fallen angels are evil. Beautiful on the outside, but lethal on the inside, with a black heart.
Can anyone notice what’s happening? Will I get exposed for what happened earlier? If he says anything, father will definitely punish me in a very brutal way. After the terrible news he gave me earlier today, I can’t take any more hits than this.
I expect him to tell my father that he caught me in his suite. Father will undoubtedly make me regret ever going there. The silence is deafening, and I wish the ground would open up and swallow me whole. Father clears his throat awkwardly, making everyone break their gazes away from the intense man.
“Killian, I have heard all about your influence and powerful empire, and I must say that it is an honor to have you among us.” Father smiles. Killian nods slightly, his face unreadable, as though he is neither impressed nor disappointed by Father’s words.
“For the longest time, I have admired the strength and success of the Kozlov empire. Although I tried to establish a relationship with your family in the past, it didn’t work out as expected for reasons I never understood. But I am beyond pleased that we have moved past that now. I have so many plans in store for us.”
Everyone cheers and claps except for me and Killian Kozlov himself.
I study my empty plate as I wonder why Father suddenly wants to associate himself with this man. The Kozlov name is popular and feared because of the rumors surrounding their power and influence. They own luxurious clubs, hotels, and several other corporations, and they are connected to dangerous people and questionable organizations.
I don’t know much about Killian Kozlov, but I know that he is a very powerful man, and he is still relatively young. Even though I hate him with everything in me, some part of me cannot help but respect his strength and influence. He watches my father speak silently, betraying no emotion on his face. His jaw is so sharp, I bet it could cut through glass. Damn him and his handsome face!
I know Father has been trying to expand his influence, but going as far as joining forces with Killian Kozlov and his organization is certainly a choice I don’t understand.
Does Father not see how dangerous this man is? Does he not realize that he’s putting his family in danger by associating himself with such people?
I raise my eyes, and my heart skips a beat when I catch Killian watching me with a heated gaze in his dark eyes. Why does he keep staring at me like I stole something from him? I glare back at him, refusing to cower or be intimidated.
What annoys me the most is that I cannot read him. There is no way for me to know if he plans to expose me or threaten me.
I feel disappointed in myself for getting into this situation. I wish I hadn’t gone into that suite. I wish he hadn’t found me, and I wish I had never spoken to him to the point of him pushing me in the tub. I hate him so much gosh!
I just need to avoid him as much as possible. I’m certain that whatever he has come to discuss with Father will be over once he leaves, and then I won’t have to deal with him again.
“Thank you, Alessandro. This union and partnership means a lot to me,” Killian says, without any hint of gratitude in his voice. Even his smiles do not reach his eyes. How can I tell? I’m an expert at faking smiles myself.
“As you know, I am Killian Kozlov, and this is my uncle and closest family member apart from my father, Bento Kozlov.”
The older man beside him, dressed almost identically to Killian, gives a stiff nod. His white hair is styled to perfection, and he looks to be at least fifty years old.
Killian’s eyes land on me again, and I internally curse myself for looking at him. When will I learn to stop staring?
“You have such a lovely family. I’ve heard tales of your beautiful wife, but I must say they don’t do justice to her beauty and grace. Nice to meet you, Mrs. Valenti.”
My stepmother’s eyes shine with pride as she compliments him in return.
Then Killian’s eyes suddenly fall on me. A slow smile spreads across his devilishly handsome face.
“And your daughters… are a sight to behold.”
An unfamiliar warmth settles in my stomach as he looks at me while saying those words. I know Isabella is sitting beside me, but why do I feel like he is directly talking to me? His dark eyes drop to my mouth, making my throat dry instantly. Why does this man affect me? It has to be because I’m terrified he will expose me. Nothing else, right?
“I expect a beautiful woman to acknowledge a compliment when she receives one, Miss Valenti.” A grin spreads across his face as he watches me.
Me alone.
Oh, God.
“Thank you, Killian!” Isabella quickly responds in her high-pitched voice. She giggles and bats her eyelashes at him in that weird flirty way she used to do at school.
Thanks for saving me, sis.
Killian turns slightly to glance at her, as if only just noticing her. “You’re welcome, Miss…?”
“Isabella. Popularly known as TheGoddessElla” I try not to roll my eyes at her cringy social media name. “You might have heard of me. I’m quite popular online.”
“I’m afraid I haven’t. You must forgive me for my lack of social media awareness.”
I catch the disappointment on Isa’s face before she quickly masks it with a bright smile.
“Well, now you know me!” she replies confidently. “I’m a fashion influencer, like my mom.”
Isabella never fails to brag about her popularity and lavish lifestyle to anyone who will listen.
“That is nice for a hobby,” Killian replies, looking absolutely unimpressed. I don’t need to look at my stepsister to know she is disappointed by his response.
“And you, Miss Valenti? What hobbies do you have?” Killian watches me with a challenging sparkle in his eyes.
I suck in a deep breath. Why is he asking me? What’s his business with my hobby?? “Um…”
“Let me guess. You love… swimming?”
My lips part in shock. Did he just say that in front of my whole family?
“Or perhaps your hobby is talking rudely to strangers?” He asks, his deep voice vibrating through every single part of my body. My eyes widen in shock and anger. Fuck, I’m definitely in trouble. This evil man is literally talking about what happened in the suite!
My face flushes crimson, and I try to regulate my erratic heartbeat. I want to answer him, but I can’t seem to form any words. My heart is thumping so loudly that I’m afraid it will burst out of my chest. I’m well aware of Alek’s suspicious eyes burning into the side of my face. He’s probably wondering why Killian Kozlov is even talking to me.
“Reyna doesn’t have any hobbies that I know of, much less swimming,” Father interrupts, breaking our eye contact.
I almost shake my head in disappointment. My father doesn’t even know that I competed in swimming when I was in high school. He hardly knows anything about me anymore, but at least he has distracted Killian.
“Anyway, you’ll get to know my daughters once you join our family,” Father continues excitedly.
I almost miss what he says before my brain registers the meaning.
“J–Join our family?” I echo, anxiety filling me.
Father levels me with a glare for speaking out of turn. I lower my face and clamp my mouth shut. He hates when people interrupt him.
“Yes. Killian Kozlov will become a part of our family,” Father announces, facing everyone at the table. “Because he will marry my daughter, Isabella Valenti.”
Everyone at the table cheers and clinks their glasses in celebration, but I can’t hear them over the loud ringing in my ears.
It cannot be. There is no way I am this unfortunate.
Killian Kozlov is about to become my brother-in-law. And judging by the triumphant look in his eyes, he seems pleased with the arrangement.
He’ll have every opportunity to torment me now.
Damn it all to hell.
